Find a Sports Star

Find a Sports Star is a talent search initiative supporting governing body sports in affording quality training opportunities to new talent in a host of sports. The initiative is supported by GLL, is open to young people aged 8 - 16 and is partnered by Commonwealth Games NI.

Sports clubs involved will conduct sports sessions with an aim of signposting youths into their mainstream sports squads for future Youth Games including potentially the Belfast Commonwealth Games being hosted in Belfast in 2021.

We are promoting the following sports through the Find a Sports Star programme:

judo,

volleyball,

rowing,

bowls,

hockey,

fencing,

squash,

weightlifting,

basketball,

disability sports of Boccia and wheelchair basketball.

Belfast City Council is investing £10,000 in this programme which will enhance the opportunities for younger talented participants to get involved with sport at a high level and potentially become stars of the future. Each sport will have a Sports Star Champion following the talent search and squad training sessions from February to April 2018.

Our leisure operator, GLL (Better brand) who have day to day operational management of Belfast Leisure Centres will also support the initiative through their GLL Sport Foundation and training memberships to support young athletes in Belfast to develop their potential and achieve sporting success.

Find a Sports Star video

Find a Sports Star pictures

The Commonwealth Youth Games

The Commonwealth Youth Games is the largest global multi-sport event in which local athletes are able to represent Northern Ireland. The Games involve 70 nations and territories which are home to over 2 billion people, more than a third of the world’s population.

Belfast has won the right to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games, an event which will see some of the finest young talent compete in nine sports over five days. Previous Youth Games competitors include Jessica Ennis-Hill, Carl Frampton, Geraint Thomas, Beth Tweddle and Michael Conlan.

A home Youth Games provides a springboard for aspiring local athletes to participant in a global event in front of home support. The Games will provide opportunities for sports development, volunteering, education and an economic impact through tourism. With competitors arriving from all parts of the world, the 2021 Youth Games will be a festival celebrating sport, culture, diversity and inclusivity.